The Business Advice I Wish I’d Known

“Get as much experience as you can. Design courses are great but there is no substitute for the on-the-job experience in this industry. Start under the watchful eye of someone more experienced and trial out different design studios to see what set-ups work best for you. I didn’t do this and absolutely wish someone had given me this advice at the beginning” – Tiffany Duggan

“The life of an entrepreneur can be lonely, so consider having a sparring partner or good network around you to help from the start” – Victoria Preston

“I think designers should be encouraged to be more financially astute and be emboldened and confident to charge their full worth when costing” – Tola Ojuolape

“Time spent doesn’t equal value – some of the best ideas only take five minutes to come up with but they can have a huge positive impact and solve lots of problems for your clients” – George Townsin, Studio George

“There is no real 'right' way of doing things. Interior design is quite a secretive industry but also fundamentally a creative one – it’s absolutely fine running a studio to suit how you want to operate it. That took me a while to learn” – Tom Morris, Morrisstudio

“I initially felt the pressure to take on every opportunity that came my way, but I’ve come to learn the value of being selective and focusing on projects that align with our studio’s ethos and strengths. Building a clear identity for your business – knowing what you stand for and who your ideal client is – makes such a difference in attracting the right work” – Rachael Gowdridge

Don’t get bogged down by things you can delegate. Get an accountant and assistant from the offset so you can focus on the design and clients” – Stella Weatherall

“Know your strengths. The second you can, employ someone to do any aspect of the business that is not your strong suit, because you can spend a very, very long time on something you’re not very good at. That way you can focus your time on new business, meeting clients and doing the creative side” – Adele Lonergan, Covet Noir

“I learnt pretty quickly to try to foresee what can go wrong during a project, as much as what can go right! I also try to remember that I am not the only one who will end up living or using the space” – Flora Soames

“Not to stress over the small things! When I first began, the fundamentals such as building a website or finding an accountant used to stress me out, because those were areas I didn’t know much about; I now realise all those things do just eventually fall into place” – Katharine Paravicini

“Stick to what you love, and what your vision is, because as soon as you start to compromise on your look and your aesthetics, then you dilute your brand power” – Polly Ashman

"Always ask for help from suppliers and specific trades: they are the experts in their fields, so make use of their knowledge" – Rosanna Bossom

“Trust your instincts, network your socks off and believe in yourself” –Natalie Stephenson and Juliette Wright, Stephenson Wright

“Go with your gut: if you get a bad feeling about someone or something, it’s probably right. Work with creative and fun people – the relationship between interior designer and supplier is so important and trust is paramount" – Amy Dalrymple, Dalrymple Studio